【VG】 Live Report | GACKT, the final ”VISUALIVE” series ”GACKT WORLD TOUR 2016 LAST VISUALIVE 最後期ノ月-LAST MOON- supported by Nestle”,goes across the world!!

Before the tour begins, Gackt announced, “This VISUALIVE TOUR is going to be the last .” Gackt’s live consists of movie,music and staging. “VISUALIVE” is created by bringing those three elements to an ultimate level. Since it requires enormous time and effort to create “VISUALIVE”,considering his physical and mental strength,he decided to make this one the last to deliver at his utmost level. Therefore,he named it “GACKT WORLD TOUR 2016 LAST VISUALIVE 最後ノ月-LAST MOON- supported by Nestlé” and has been continuously touring giving 42 live performances since March.

Thinking about his demanding workーimproving his body and spirit to tip-top condition and perform about four hours at each live show devoting all his energyーit’s easy to understand that he drew a line even though he’s still 42 years old(turned 43 on July 4). But for the fans who’s been touched by it’s amazing staging and heart-tugging storyline are nothing but disappointed.

Please reread the tour title: “GACKT WORLD TOUR 2016 LAST VISUALIVE 最後期ノ月-LAST MOON- supported by Nestlé.” Gackt fans from all over the world reading this article,rejoice.

He announced that he will go on a WORLD TOUR from 2017. And in addition,he will bring back the show to Japan at the end of the tour naming it “TriumphalPerformance.” Details will be released in chase so wait in anticipation.

The show carries on with stage play “MOONSAGA-義経秘伝(Yoshitune Mystic)-” series(Gackt wholly produced and played the lead) holding the key position.

Gacktidentifies his spirit with Yoshitsune’s way of life,which himself has a strong feeling for,and has been asking the audience through the show(story) what kind of thoughts a human should have deep in the heart.

A fierce red moon was radiating a dull glow from the stage.As the venue shrouded in darkness,Gackt’s words and poem projected on the red moonー“Why do we repeat the same mistake.” Then Yoshitsune(Gackt) appeared on the giant screen battling,in heavy rain covered in mud,with his army against his brother Yoritomo and his army who’s been trampling down on Yoshitsune faction.

Invaded by Yoritomo’s army,that don’t decrease no matter how hard they battle,his fellows die one after another. And before he knew,the reach of the devil was right there. An arrow shot to the back went through his chest also getting slashed,he stood still on a pile of bodies halfway dead. He slowly walks towards the enemy force one step at a time and stood in front of them more dead than alive. Back then,they were fellows but Yoritomo made a ruthless decision on his brotherーhe growled “Kill him!”

Thousands of arrows shot at Yoshitsune and as rain of arrows showering him,the live starts. A dynamic sound indicated start of “ARROW. “

Graceful music reverberated. Japanese taste medium tempo rock number “RETURNER～闇の終焉～“,a magnificent number that moves your heart as the song carries. At the chorus part,excitement burst out by the roaring sound.

Gackt blazed out from head to foot. He keeps up the aggressive mode inflaming us to burn even more.

Then with the sound of the pouring rain,Gackt singd “暁月夜-DAY BREAKER-” a cappella like speaking his feelings for his fellows. The music gradually grows intense. More importantly,this song sounds like a requiem for his fellows. What a moving song.

Act 2 takes place in nine years before the battle. Minamoto no Yoritomo is

successfully dominating the country. Tonight,as always,he’s having a feast enjoying “sake” in ecstasy over the victory. Then a man comes in the scene;his younger brother Minamoto no Yoshitsune. The two who’s been splitting despite that they’re brothers finally stands face-to-face.

The next morning,Yoshitsune states “From now on,I’ll dedicate my life to you,my brother.” Yoritomo sensed thousands of demons and say,”You’re possessed by demons.” Yoshitsune answers “They are my fellows.”Little did they know that thiswas a signal of the start of the tragedy go underway nine years later.

The next morning,Yoshitsune states “From now on,I’ll dedicate my life to you,my brother.” Yoritomo sensed thousands of demons and say,”You’re possessed by demons.” Yoshitsune answers “They are my fellows.”Little did they know that thiswas a signal of the start of the tragedy go underway nine years later.

Band members appears on stage performing “泡沫の夢” playing the “shamisen”fiercely with tons of fire blowing up in the back. The melody woke up the demons deep down from the dark side. While the flame blaze out one after another,Gackt shows up with a sword in his hand having army of demons in tow and burst into singing “斬～ZAN～” The performance looks like a ritual.

At the sound of a huge explosion,starts performing “傀儡が如く”

Gackt turning into a marionette,sings and dance like partying at hell with his fellows(demons).

The mood changes. Singing in sorrow,like recalling the golden days Gackt performes “揺藍歌-LULLING-” wrapped in a white world.

Yoshitsune and Taira no Noritsune appears on screen. Noritsune,almost taking his last breath,Yoshitsune encourages him saying “Live,” and they gently kiss.

The scene shifts all of a sudden. Gackt,watching the previous scenes on the PC at the backstage,is on screen.

It’s time to play games with members of 神威♂楽園「イケメン研究部」

Scenes of playing all kinds of match-up games at each live concert show on screen. This day,under the theme “対マン勝負( One-on-one battle),” 神威楽斗 and 安田大サーカス‘s HIRO fight sumo. Just to let you know that 神威楽斗 pulled off the victory.

The show develops to the enthusiastic Act 3. Members steps on stage to the SE of “U＋K UNPLUGGED.” Gackt hits the stage wearing a jacket on his upper half naked well-toned-body. Running into “ONE MORE KISS,” which is perfect for act 3.

With an air of openness,keeping his all-out attack mode,he creates a scene that sways the body throughout the venue.

Gackt strums the guitar then hear audience scream “Gackt!” from all over the venue and Gackt responds “I can’t hear.” This interaction is a familiar scene in his live. After doing that for a while they perform “MIRROR,” a wild rock number with a psychedelic taste. Gackt transforms the venue into a huge party. At the end,Gackt and the audience interacts yelling “YEAH! YEAH!” so many times,

another familiar scene,and heats up all together as he swallows all the fans into the heave of the majestic music.

Gackt had a talk time more than a hour. Answering to the fans quips like having a conversation is so Gackt. Since July 4th is his birthday DJ KOO and TAKUMI(Sound Director) comes out with a huge cake and bouquet as a surprise guest at the end of the talk time.

The second half of act 3 started with “U＋K” where Gackt wearing cat ears and exposing cute faces and gesture. Audience sings along “月の魔法はシャラララ甘い魔法で囁くから,” then two kid dancers and two cats(animal suit) appeares on stage. Gackt runs around the big stage from side to side creating a bright moment with the pop and charming party song. At the end of the song Gackt cries like a cat “Meow meow” so adorably.42 years old and has idol ability.

Gackt and dancers holding the “bachi(drum stick)” in each hands,beats the taikos(drums) that falls down one after another,without looking the screen at all,to the song “舞哈BABY!! -WooHa-(ウーハーベイビー)”The matsuri taste number is so strong and the staging of a masculine image is perfect for Gackt’s live.

At “恋のFRIDAY!!!”,a song portraying a sparkling enthusiasm,Gackt and the audience calls out “濃い恋来い“”良い酔い宵“”如意女医尿意“”パイ π 敗” back and forth,creating an exciting moment together the whole time. As he shouts “I wish we can all be a family,” we definately bonded as a family.

The stage utterly changes and Gackt shot into the white limelight sings “キミだけのボクでいるから” a cappella in the sound of the bustle. The performance transforms into a large scale expression beautifully. Gackt sings through his emotions. This song is going to be released and be the opening theme for animation “TRICKSTER –江戸川乱歩「少年探偵団」より-” which starts from October and Gackt joins as voice actor playing 怪人二十面相(The Fiend with Twenty Faces).It is exciting that a song,expressing Gackt’s emotional swings,will spread over a wide range of people.

With the heartrending piano sound,Gackt sings ballad “P.S.I LOVE U”,like reading the letter showed on the screen,as if confessing his love to the one with the beautiful melody. Are those words for the fellows who lost their lives in the battle!? On the back screen bands of lights gathered and disappeared into the sky.

Screening all previous “VISUALIVE” reflecting the past,Gackt murmurs “Why do you make the same mistakes” and act 4 opens.

Vision of fellows dying one after another engraves in Yoshitsunne’s(Gackt) eyes. Feeling sorrow and anger,Yoshitsune won’t stop. But an arrow shot in his back pierces through the chest. Gackt falls on is knee and collapse on the ground. And…

A tender white moon reflects on the water surface:it is the moon reflected on Yoshitsune’s sake cup. As he gulped down the sake,his fellows come to him and exchanged cups of sake smiling. They said “Even though we were born on different days,born in different places;we hope to die on the same day,” and convey their gratitude for the fate of meeting Yoshitsune. Feeling their love,he fell asleep in relief.

He awakes in a snowing battlefield littered with dead bodies. Yoshitsune

,shot by thousands of arrows,was feeling he’s on the verge of dying.

As he quietly says “It hurts”,he closed his eyes and head up to the sky where his fellows are waiting.

On stage,there’s Gackt lying down on the chair out of breath with lots of arrows shot in his body. Snow keeps falling on his body,he gathers his strength and sings “雪月花-The end of silence-” Is that voice for his fellows departed far away!? Performers in white shrouds gather around Gackt(Yoshitsune). Surrounded by his fellows,he sings ” 雪月花-The end of silence-” with a gentle smile. By the time he finished he took his last breath quietly…

（舞台上には、身体を貫いた無数の矢を身に受け、息絶え絶えな姿のまま椅子に横たえたGACKTの姿が。次々と雪がその身に降り積もる中、GACKTは最後の力と想いを振り絞りながら『雪月花-The end of silence-』を歌いかけてゆく。その歌声は、先に遠くへ旅立った仲間たちへ向けての言葉!?。GACKTのまわりには白装束に身を包んだ演者たちの姿が。何時しか舞台上には、GACKT(義経)の元へ集った大勢の仲間たちの姿が。沢山の仲間たちに囲まれ、フッと優しい笑みも浮かべながら、GACKTは『雪月花-The end of silence-』を歌いきると同時に、静かに息を引き取った。。。）

A strikingly shining band of light showed on the big screen and thousands of lights gather on it and flew up to the sky as a big light.

A huge red moon was shiningbright from the stage. Is that moon the safe refuge for Gackt and the fellows he met through “VISUALIVE”!?